like this, it's hoped that will soon change. france's president says the international community should have intervened in syria sooner to stop the threated from armed groups. ♪ hello this is al jazeera live from our headquarters in doha. also ahead, the u.n. special envoy to libya, says ending the fighting will be a long and difficult process. and harsh winter weather hits syrian refugees. at least six children have died in the low temperatures. pope francis again calls for

reconciliation in sri lanka. ♪ france's president says his country must show great determination against terrorism. hollande addressed french troops on the aircraft carrier which is sailing off for the indian ocean and may deploy to the middle east. >> translator: i continue to regret that the international community did not react to syria on time. france was ready. orders had been given. but another route was chosen. jonah hull joins us live from paris. this was hollande's annual address to the french military. he talked a lot about domestic issues, but a lot about international issues as well. tell us more about his address.

>> reporter: well i think this was perhaps an opportunity for president hollande to make two coy points the first was to demonstrate what he is doing, and what is being done to protect the homeland so protect french citizens a week after those attacks on the headquarters of charlie hebdo last wednesday, and he made the point that 10,000 troops had been deployed in record time. nothing like this he said had ever been seen before. they are out there now, protecting sensitive sites like churches mosque synagogues and transport hubs. but he also took the opportunity to make the point that his foreign policy has been focused on what he described as menaces from outside, and there are many, he said and indeed menaces that had a hand in the attack last week. his foreign minister is seen as wildly successful while his

domestic policy is seen be me as something of a failure. so he pointed out that france's enpagement in mali has been in the face of a jihadist offensive. he pointed out that france is participating in the air strikes. and that france had advocated an interversion in syria in 2013 that the rest of the world didn't go for, the point being had it done so islamic state may not have been born in the first place. >> coming back to the domestic front, jonah, we are seeing measures being taken in france. we're seeing a crackdown on hate speech which is of course reigniting the debate about free speech and its boundaries. >> reporter: that's right. prosecutors and judges across the country have been given

instructions by the government to crack down against as you say hate speech anti-semitic speech and what is described as glorifying terrorism. essentially anything that amounts to defending what hand last week and we understand 54 arrests along those lines have been made in the week including the controversial comic for writing on his facebook page we have charlie coulibaly. it really sets the scene here in france for a debate that will rage on and on and on while millions turned out in defense of free speech on the weekend, now there is on the cover of the new edition of charlie hebdo a cartoon of the profit once again, and the question mark where does -- where is this lawn drawn between what is

acceptable, free speech and what is not. >> thank you very much jonah. that's jonah hull live for us in paris. al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula says it ordered planned and funded the paris attacks. our correspondent reports. >> reporter: his name is a name that doesn't come up so often in the media, but the man appears to be the one of the most senior members of al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula. in this video, he says his group is responsible for the attacks on the office of the french magazine charlie hebdo. >> translator: aqap leaders chose the targets, laid out the plan and funded the operation. the order came from our leader.

>> reporter: he also says the u.s. born cleric who was killed in a drone strike in yemen in 2011 was involved in the initial planning of the attacks. the u.s. had accused him of recruiting western converts to attack western targets. the new al-qaeda video is seen by some as nothing more than propaganda. this analyst says he has a hard time believing al-qaeda's statements. >> it wouldn't have taken this long to organize this particular attack. this is one of the reasons why i'm skeptical. i am also skeptical, because these two brothers coordinated their actions or were certainly in touch with their coconspirator amedy who then claims he is being sponsored or dedicated his actions to the

islamic state. the islamic state and al-qaeda are rivals. >> reporter: but the cia has already considered al-qaeda's branch in yemen as the most active part of the armed group. it is lead by this man, and this is its top military commander. but this is the man in the spotlight now. he is seen in this video issues religious etic. he spent years in bosnia and then kashmir, but joining osama bin laden. then we went back to yemen where he was arrested and released months later. he now emerges an important figure in an armed group that controls huge areas of yemen. and a special edition of the

charlie hebdo publication has gone on sale. the united nations is bridging together rival factions from libya in geneva to try to broke ear peace deal. three years after the fall of gadhafi, two separate governments have emerged. and armed groups who joined together to topple gaudify have now disbanded and are fighting each other. >> i think it has to be very clear after some time making a huge effort to bring many people from different realms to the table, their time is finished and the international community, and i am in touch with the most important international regional actors. i'm in touch, of course with the representatives of the security council, and the international community.

for those who want war, we'll have no more patience. >> zana hoda has more. >> reporter: the united nations is calling this a long difficult, and complicated process, but it is saying there is no other choice time is running out, and this could be the last chance for peace in libya, but how meaningful are these talks when not all of libya's rival factions are here. the general national congress the parliament in tripoli, they are not here. they have postponed their decision on whether to at tend or not, because they are not happy with the mechanisms put in place. but the u.n. envoy said if you are not here that means you don't believe in dialogue. it means you believe in war, and for the international community this is unacceptable and we are at thinged going to lose pashg ens. so it is clear the u.n. is pushing forward this process. not all parties are taking part

but we have heard european diplomats express concerns that the situation in libya is deteriorating, and libya is at their doorsteps. so it seems there is an urgency to find some sort of solution. the priority now is to form a national unity government. the united nations is appealing for help to deal with freezing weather that has swept across the middle east. nick ole johnston reports. >> reporter: it is freezing cold in aleppo and this man is desperately trying to keep warm but without wood and fuel he can't, so he has no choice but to use whatever he can find. >> translator: we have no money. so we were forced to break our furniture for heating. we have no relatives here. they have all gone away. >> reporter: aleppo used to be a

big city for business but all of that is buried under rubble. most of these neighborhoods have no electricity. the cost of diesel and gas has increased threefold, even if it's available, people can't afford it. a few clinics look after the sick. but they haven't got enough supplies to really help them recover. winter is killing people. >> translator: they died as a result of the harsh cold. this is the indirect cause of death. but the direct cause was respiratory and cardiac arrest. >> reporter: a dozen people have died from the cold in syria, including a baby. the undersays it is getting worse. >> translator: we are [ inaudible ] hospital in aleppo says there is an increase in respiratory and infection diseases among children due to weather conditions. >> reporter: freezing conditions

swept across the middle east last week. the weather has now improved but the united nations says people living in camps are still suffering. in the syrian countryside around homs there isn't enough bread to go around. activists blame the government for preventing truckloads of wheat from reaching the bakeries leaving hundreds of thousands of people without bread. >> translator: it's been six days without wheat. people here are grinding barly, corn and animal feed. they are using pasta, anything to make bread. >> reporter: a bitter wind whips through the streets. there's likely many months of winter and war left to endure. nick coal johnston al jazeera, beirut. still ahead on the program, driving discrimination why russia's new road rules have one

community feeling under threat. >> reporter: coming up a storm that threatens species only found in these waters that could hold secrets to saving human lives. ♪

>> you know how they say that everybody has a purpose in life? well, at one time, i felt that selling cocaine was my purpose. >> we was starvin', just lookin' for a way to succeed. >> the first time i seen rock cocaine was 1980. >> the murder rate was sky-high. >> south of the 10 freeway, was kind of a "no-man's land". >> you know, we're selling it for the blacks.

i said, you go into these neighborhoods, there's no cops you can sell it where you want and when they start killing each other, nobody cares. >> i was going through like a million dollars worth of drugs just about every day. >> that's like gold! >> we can make a fortune! >> he was maybe the biggest guy in l.a. >> freeway rick was getting his dope from a very big operator. i think we're into something that's bigger than us. something we really can't deal with. >> they had been trafficking on behalf of the united states government. >> she could prove what she was saying. >> [rapping] crack in the system. >> [rapping] this is los angeles. ♪ welcome back. a reminder of our top stories. france's president's said the international community should have intervened in syria sooner.

his speech comes as al-qaeda in the arabian peninsula says it is behind the attacks on charlie hebdo offices in paris last yeek. in an online video released on wednesday, the group says it was ordered by the group's global heard. and the u.n. is trying to immediate peace talks between rival groups from libya. since revolution four years ago two separate governments have emerged trying to control the country. now the top u.s. official leading the fight against the islamic state of iraq and the levant, says more time and training is needed to retake the iraqi city of mosul. special u.s. envoy, general john allen made the comments during a visit to bagdad. >> we expect we'll see the effectiveness of this force improve over time and ultimately that they will be able to take back the city. it's important that it will done

in the right measures. it's important that we have all of the pieces in place when that time comes. it's important that it is done in a deliberate manner so the planning is accomplished in the kinds of detail necessary, and done in conjunction with the support we have from the coalition. china is looking to tighten its cyber security. internet users are being told to register their real identities. >> reporter: there are 700 million internet users in china. that's half the country's population. ? and china announces it wants to know the real identity of people commenting on social media websites. it says people can still use their nicknames but only after they have registered with website's administrators. china hasn't said how it intends to police and enforce this

regulation. and it has proved difficult in the past. only 80% of users of china's most popular instant messaging service have registered their real identities. and in beijing, users of social media platforms are also required to register their real names, but service providers have admitted that they find it difficult to force people to do so because it's a time-consuming effort. china says this measure is to ensure that they can regulate online content and to make sure that there's no spread of rumors on the internet. chinese internet users, however, are not so sure with some expressing concerns about whether this move will lead to more self censorship and whether or not service providers can guarantee the safety of their personal information. hong kong's leader has warned that the pursuit of

democracy must be in accordance to the law. he made the comment during his annual address. some opposition leaders walked out of the chambers in protest. russia says transsexual and transgender people will no longer qualify for driver's licenses. the government says it is tightening requirements for drivers because there are too many accidents. but the gay community says it feels increasingly under threat. >> reporter: maria is a 35-year-old moscow lawyer and human rights activist. she was born man, but underwent transgender surgery to become a woman. she says the government is now enforcing a new wave of ultra traditional value, and she says she has suddenly found herself in the front line. >> translator: when i first read about this law i didn't think it

would affect me but then three or four days later i understood that it may affect me. people are afraid and there are certain stereo types. people don't want to fight for their rights and confront the government because it will make them take out their anger on us. >> reporter: the gay community in russia has found itself under growing threat in the last two years. protesters arrested and new anti-gay legislation introduced. the russian government appeared to climb back on wednesday saying that having psychological behavior disorders was not necessarily a precondition for disqualification. but human rights watch says the law is badly framed and has nothing to do with safe driving. >> you see certain categories that were included that appear to be -- well appear to have nothing to do with road safety whatsoever.

say gamblers for example. what does gambling have to do with road safety? or voyeurism, what does it have to do with road safety? nothing. they were probably included by mistake. >> reporter: many were unaware of the new law, but there was brood agreement that if it was to be enforced civil liberties would be infringed. >> translator: of course sexual minorities and transgender people should be able to drive. they have the same rights that should not be infringed. >> translator: this is completely ridiculous. those listed in the law have little to do with reality. >> reporter: but the ban is not just about transsexuals those shorter than 4'9" please step in the back you'll be joined by compulsive gamblers schizophrenics voyeurs,

exhibitionist, oh and of course amputees. part of the government's solution to safer driving. now farming of genetically modified crops could be set to increase in europe. the european union has voted in favor of a new law which gives member states the freedom to decide for themselves whether gm crops are grown within their borders or not. now to sri lanka where hundreds of thousands of people in the capitol have joined pope francis to celebrate mass. the read of the roman catholic church cattonized the country's first catholic saint at the ceremony. >> reporter: more than half a million sri lankans joined in prayer with pope francis. many camped overnight with extended families for what they described as the biggest day of

their lives. teresa travelled to the capitol from the south. >> translator: i have never had a chance like this and it's a privilege to be here. >> reporter: the mass also drew worshippers from further afield like this couple from india. for hundreds of thousands of people who attended mass here it was a chance of a lifetime. to see the head of the catholic church and be blessed by him. pope francis is here to cantonnize the 17th century catholic missionary. he worked to revive the church under persecution by the dutch call lolizers. over 1,700 priests took part in the mass. the 78-year-old pontiff said reconciliation is important in a country struggling to come to terms with the end of almost 30

of civil war. >> not in discrimination hatred and violence but in respect for the sacredness of life respect for the dignity and freedom of others and commit to the welfare of all. >> reporter: catholics are a minority in sri lanka. they hope the goodwill created by the first papal visited here in 20 years will help unite people of all faiths in what has been a deeply divided country. the former mayor of the mexican town of iguala has been charged in connection with the kidnapping of 43 missing students. there have been months of protests after students went missing. grieving families are demanding more information from the

government which has been criticized for the handling of the case. now haiti's political instability has told reconstruction efforts after the earthquake of 2010. back then we made a boy who faced an uncertain future. >> reporter: this 8-year-old lost both his mother and father in the haiti earthquake. days after the disaster al jazeera found him in a makeshift orphanage. he was underably terrified and could not stop crying. he was put into an orphanage with other children. five years later and we were able to track him down. he is still one tens of thousands of haitian children that have been left orphans after the earthquake. this is your class? he is now 13, and still living

in the same orphanage, but that is where the similarities to five years ago end. he has gained weight and scars have long gone. he is going to school learned to read and write, and he will graduate from middle school next year. he has dreams of becoming a mechanic, but more than anything he is happy and smiling. his softly spoken voice belying an inner courage. >> translator: i go to school. i go to church. i can sleep well. play with my friends. that's what makes me happy. >> reporter: he quietly looks at the video of himself from five years ago. it's almost like he can't recognize the boy from back then. today the orphanage itself has 22 kids. they are trying to expand to take in more but funding is short. the little money they do have they used to make ends meet. >> translator: it's a bittersweet for me. i'm sad because i cannot have

the number of children that are brought to me. but i'm happy because at least i can help somebody like sun sun. >> reporter: haiti has many entrenched problems but look hard enough and there are signs of hope and his same is sun sun, a boy who is now hoping to write his own destiny. the an enchant canals that surround mexico city are home to a rare species of salamander. conservationists are fighting to save it because it is part of the culture and holds scientific secrets. >> reporter: the last recommend innocence of an ancient system of channals in meks mexico city. 15 years ago the mexican

salamander was thriving in nature. a recent census shows they have virtually disappeared in the wild. now they can only be found regularly in places like this. >> translator: one reason we do this is for conservation. we want to rehabilitate the canals for them and make sure people can consume them again. >> reporter: ancient aztec did eat the salamander but also revered it as a god. saving it is about preserving part of mexican culture. those who breed and release the salamander are part of the problem. those born in captivity are genetically weaker and cannot survive in nature. they only exist in the wild in these canals. and now this area is under

threat. there is the black market too, this fisherman says the money, nearly $300 is too tempting in these lawless waters. >> translator: i'm one of the last fisherman around here who can get them for you if you would like. >> reporter: scientists don't just want to save them they want to unlock the secret to how it regrows body parts. what is so special about these biologically. >> they very, very interesting features. one is that you can cut any part of the limbs or body and they can regrow it. and even you can cut a little bit of its brain or heart, and it can regrow that part. >> reporter: researchers say the key is to protect their native habitat, and provide space for them to breed again in the wild without that the salamander

along with his reagaintive powers may not be long for this world. and a reminder you can keep up to date on all of the news on our website, the latest on our top story, that's at aljazeera.com. haiti, october 2010, at a hospital in a small, rural town north of the capital. these were the first victims of a horrific, unknown disease in a country still reeling from a devastating earthquake. patients were dying in the space of a few hours. children were especially vulnerable. al jazeera was the first news channel on the scene. in the following days and weeks